Liquid control gear



Feb. 1.8, 1947. c, G. HEBEL LIQUID CONTROL GEAR Filed sept. 2o,- 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Feb. 18, 1947. c. G. HEBEL LIQUID CONTROL GEAR Filed Sept. 20, 1945 .2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Feb. is, 1947 UNITED ASTATES LIQUID CONTROL GEAR .can c. new, N.' J., umn-to vspan-y l Products, Inc., Hoboken, N. J., a corporatlon'of New York` Application September 20, 1945, Serial No. 617,479

' -1o claims.

This invention relates toiiquid, controlgear of .the type wherein movement of a memberat a .transmitting station is caused to control movement of a member at a receiving station. More I particularly this invention relatesvto control gear of this type wherein the transmitting and receiving stations are connected by a liquid transmission system. One such system-is shown in the patent to H. S. Hele-Shaw and T. E. Beacham, No. 1,983,884, granted December 11, 1934, for hydraulic control gear, in which the object is to apply a, constant force to the iluid system at the transmitting end and to receive a corresponding constant force at the receiving end. Another such system is shown in the-patent to Alfred W. Lawrence, No'. 2,197,554, granted April 16, 1940, for Liquid'control gear, in which the object consists in applying a continuously increasing load at the operated and receiving ends'. In either of the aforementionedl cases the operating and operatedv members will retain any position into which they may be moved without any tendency on their part -to return to a cenl tralized position.

In this type of transmission systemm problem arises due to the fact that the iluid in the transmission system changes its temperature, particu-v larly at the receiving end due to the operation of the mechanism at that end, and such change is at a greater rate than that of the pipe in which the transmitting fluid is-contained. As a result, the parts at the receiving end are operated through a predetermined degree greater, or less, than the operation which has been transmitted thereto at the transmitting end. Thus, for instance, it has been found in cases where the receiving end is employed to operate a variable pitch propeller mechanism under controlo! a governor that the temperature variation due to heating up of the ij'iuid at the receiving end has caused variation in engine speed up to 200 R. P. M. s

It is therefore one oi the principal objects of this invention to provide a transmission system of the type described, wherein. the relationship between the transmitter and the receiver will not be substantially anected by temperature variations in the transmitting fluid. For this purpose the transmitter and the receiver are normally locked against temperature variations in the transmission line which connects them. The transmission line is normally connected to a reservoir so that the liquid in the line is free to expand and contract, while at the' same time the line is disconnected from the transmitter and (ci. eli-54.5)

the receiver. Only during operation of the transmission system is the line disconnected lfrom 'the reservoir and connected tothe transmitter and the receiver. Thus another object of this invention is to provide novel means for accomplishing the above viescribed operation wherein the transmission line is normally-'disconnected from the transmitter and receiver, but when it is desired to operate the system, the transmission line is dis-v connected from the-reservoir and connected to the transmitter and the receiver.

' Further objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent in the following .detailed description thereof.

- In the accompanying drawings,

Fig. 1 is an assembly view, with parts sectioned vertically, of liquid control gear embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged view of a portion of the transmitter in another operating position of the parts. l 4 Fig. 3 is'a view similar to Fig. 2 showing the parts in still another operating position.

the invention comprises three main parts, namely, a transmitting station T, a receiving station R., and a force transferring connection or duct C. Duct C is filled with i'luid in a column which extends from a transmitter piston Il to a receiver piston I I For applying force to the liquid column for the purpose of transmitting force, there may be provided within the transmitterT a cylinder Il within which operates the piston II. The cylinder is connected at one end to the duct C through pasages I2 and I3 within the transmitter casing Il. For operatingthe piston in a direction to transmit force to the liquid column there may be provided a transmitting element in the form of a lever I4 pivoted within the casing I 8 on a pivot I1 and having an operating handle Il and the lever or crank arms I 8 and I9'. The pivot I1 is supported at its ends in the casing in suitable bearings. arm portion Il is plvotally connected at I9 to the upper end of a piston rod 20 pivotally connected to the piston at 2|'. -As the handle is moved in the direction of the arrow, the piston is lowered 1 to cause the column of liquid to move through the duct C. The force which is applied to the piston is determined by one or more loading springs 22, seated at one end against the bracket 23, iixed upon the sleeve 2l, pivoted at 25. The other end of the loading spring bears against the ll braQket 25 fixed to a rod 28, which operates with- Referring to the drawings, it will befseen that l 'I'he crank in the sleeve-member 24. The spring is under compression and applies the loading force to the lever arm I 8 by way of the pivotal connection the action of a spring 44 -to `maintain the valve nections are such that the spring acts` through a small lever arm to apply a relatively light loading force to crank arm I8Y and the piston I I when the piston is in its uppermost position, but as` the handle I is ac ated in the direction of the arrow it will be se that the spring acts through an increasing lever arm. At the same time, however, the spring is extended, so thatwhile it acts through a larger lever arm it applies a decreasing force to said arm as the latter increases. The design of the various parts may be made such that the rate of decrease of the compressive force of the spring is equal to, greater than, or slower than the rate of increase of the lever arm as handle I5 is actuated' in the direction of the arrow, depending upon the purpose to which the device is to be put, that is, whether the product of these two factors .is to be substantially con- 'stant to yield a substantially constant loading force, or whether said product is to yield a continuously increasing or decreasing loading force. The operation of handle I5 at the transmitting in its cylinder will causepiston II'gat the receiving end vto be moved-.outwardly in its cylinder and cause a piston rod 20', connected to said piston, to actua'te a lever I4' pivoted at I1'. The piston rod 20' is pivotally connected to one end of lever I4' at I9' and said lever I4' is pivotally connected at its other end at 29' to a .two-part extensible member 24'-28' pivoted at its other end at 25' in the casing I6'. the said two-part element 24'-28 being similar to the element 24-28, at the transmitting end. The two parts similarly hold between brackets 23 and 26 one or more compression springs 22' similar to spring 22. The distances between pivot I1' and pivot I9' and between I1'. and 29' are the sameas between pivot I1 and pivots I9 and 29. That is, it will be seen that the relationship of parts at the transmitter and the receiver are the same but in inverse order and therefore a force transmitted by movement ofpiston I-I will produce an equal movement of piston II'.

The interior of the casing I6 is in the form of a reservoir. The duct C is normally connected to said reservoir by way of passage I3 and a port leading from the interior of casing I6 to the passage I2 in communication with the interior of cylinder I0. Cylinder IIJ and passage I2 are normally shut off from port 30 and the interior of casing I6 by means of a valve 35 normally held against its seat by a spring 3B. The transmitting end of duct C is thus normally in connection with the reservoir within casing I6 by way of port 30 and passage I3.

At its other end the duct C communicates with the cylinder I 0 within casing I6' by way -of a duct 38 in communication with a valve chamber V within which is a passage 39 in communication with duct C. Duct C is normallydisconnected from duct 38 and therefore from the receiver cylinder I0 by reason of valve 40 normally closing the passage 39. This is eiected by a valve stem i 4I xed to valve 40 and carrying at its outer end a core 42 operating in a normally energized solenoid 43. This energization lifts the valve against upper valve imember 10 carried by ra lever 1I,

tween valve 35 and piston I I, so that temperature changes acting upon these small quantities of fluid will not materially displace the pistons, whilethe main body of fluid connected in duct C is free to expand and contract without having any effect upon thepistons Il and I I'.

` From the above description it is apparent that normally the duct C is disconnected from the transmitterand receiver pistons, but is connected i to the reservoir within the transmitter. However; when it is desired to transmit a force from the transmitter to the receiver, it is necessary to reverse this' condition and to disconnect the duct from the reservior and connect the duct to the pistons II and Il. For this purpose there is provided the following means for disconnecting the transmitter end of duct C from the reservoir and connecting itto cylinder I0 and piston Il. The transmitter handle II I5 is provided with a rod 5l) slidable within brackets 5I and 521iix`ed to the handle and carrying at its lower end a. member 53 having a slot 54 through which extends pivot I1 to permit the rod 50 to move upv and down along handle I5 relativeto xed pivot I1. Upon pressing a button 60, carried at the upper end of rod 50, the lower end of member 53 will engage and press downwardly a link 6I pivoted in the casing I6 at 62. Such downward movement of link 6I will cause downward movement of link 65 pivoted upon link 6I at 66 against the action of a spring 61 to cause compression of a spring 68 contained between a bracket 69 iixed to the link 65 and an pivoted in the casing I6 at 12. The downward movement of button 60, link 50, link 6I and link 65 will compress spring 68 sumciently to cause valve member 10 to s'eat on the upper end of port 30 and cut off the connection between the reservoir and the duct C. This is the rst step in the sequence to render the transmission system eiective.

Further downward movement of links 60, 6I and 65 will cause a rod 15 carried by link 65 to engage a rod 16, carried by valve 35 and 'slidable through valve member 10, to depress valve 35 against the action of spring 36 and'thus establish connection between cylinder I0 and duct C through passage I2, port 30 and passage I3. Rod 15 may have a pin 11 iixed thereto operating in a slot 18 formed in extension 19 on member 10.

The pin is necessary to lift the valve oi port 30I when button 60 is released. The second step in the sequence of rendering the transmission system effective has now been completed. A slight further downward movement of link 50 will cause the insulation segment on the link 50 to engage contact brushes 8I and thus break the circuit through solenoid 43 which permits spring 44 to unseat valve 40 and thus establish communication between the receiver end of duct C and the cylinder I0', through passage 39, valve chamber The transmitter angular motion lof operated member Il.

the desired motion has been transmitted and the handlelli .and operated member Il have reached the desired positions, the operator merely removes pressure from button 80. This permits spring 85, compressed between bracket l2 on handle II and bracket 83 xed on link B0, to raise link 80 and thus cause insulation segment 80 to move out of engagement with contacts 8| which then re-engage conductor segment 86 to establish the circuit through solenoid I3 which attracts core 42 and ,closes valve 40 against the action of spring 4I. 'I'his cuts off the receiver` end of duct C from the receiver cylinder I Further upward movement of link 50 permits spring 38 to move valve I5 into closed position, and thus cut off transmitter cylinder lIll from the transmitter end of the duct C'. Still further upward movement of' link l0 will permit spring B1 to lift link 8| and link 6I which lifts pin 11 against the upper end of slot 18 in extension 19 f member 10 to lift member 10 which places the port 30 in communication with the reservoir in casing I8. The elongated slot 54 limits the upward and downward movements of link lill.

In case there has been leakage in the system which has caused handles Il and I5' to move out of synchronism, 'such synchronism may be reestablished by moving handle I5 in the direction of the dotted arrow when the link 50 is in its raised position as shown in Fis. 1. Such movement will cause a pin 9| to engage link 6I and depress the samecausing downward movement of link 65 and eventually downward movement of rod 16 and valve 3B. Such movement however, tends to depress member to close port 30. In order to keep port 3 0 open, the following mechanism is provided. The normal amount of downward movement of link 8| has no effect upon a rod 92 which operates within an opening 93; but further than normal movement, such as is effected when the handle is moved in the direction of the dotted arrow causes the stop 95 on rod 92 to reach the lower side of link 6 l and thereafter movement of link 6I will depress rod 92 to lift member 1li against the action of spring B8 which has been compressed by the downward movement of. link El (see Fig. 3). Thus the cylinder i0 is brought into communication with the reservoir and compensation made for any deficiency or surplus of liquid.

The foregoing description of the invention is merely illustrative and changes' may be made within the scope yof the appended claims.

Having described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a hydraulic remote control system, in combination, a transmitter including a reservoir, a cylinder, a piston in the cylinder and an operating member for actuating the piston, a, receiver including a cylinder, a piston in the cylinder and a member operated by the piston, a hydraulic force transferring duct between the cylinders,

Avalve means for normally disconnecting the duct from the cylinders and connecting it to the reservoir whereby the operating member is rendered ineil'ective, and actuating means adapted to be operated before the operating member is operated for operating the valve means for disconnecting the duct from the reservoir and connecting the 'i 'duet to the transmitter sdrceiver cylinders to 'f render the. operatingmembe'r effective. g

2. In a hydraulif';y remote control-system, in

-Icfombinatioma transmitterincluding a reservoir, a cylinder, a piston in the cylinder and an operating member for actuating the piston, a receiver including a cylinder, a piston in the cylinder and a member operated by the piston, a hydraulic force transferring duct between the cylinders, valve means including electrically operated means for normally disconnecting the duct from the cylA inders and connecting it to the reservoir whereby the operating member is rendered ineffective, and actuating means adapted to be operated before the operating member is operated for operating the valve means for disconnecting the duct from,

the reservoir and connecting the duct to the transmitter and receiver cylinders to render the operating member effective.

3. In a hydraulic remote control system, in combination, a transmitter including a reservoir, a cylinder, a piston in the cylinder and an operating member for actuating the piston, a receiver including a cylinder, a piston in the cylinder and a member operated by the piston, a hydraulic force transferring duct between the cylinders, means including a mechanically operated valve between the duct and one cylinder and an electrically operated valve between the duct and the other cylinder for normally disconnecting the.

duct from the cylinders and connecting it to the reservoir to render the operating member ineffective, and actuating means adapted to be operated before the operating member is operated for actuating both valves to disconnect the duct.

4. In a hydraulic remote control system, in combination, a transmitter including a reservoir, a cylinder, a piston inthe cylinder and an operating member for actuating the piston, a receiver including a cylinder, a piston in the cylinder and a member operated by the piston, a hydraulic force transferring duct between the cylinders, means including a mechanically operated yvalve between the duct and the transmitter cylinder and an electrically operated valve between the duct and the receiver cylinder for normally disconnecting the duct from the cylinders and connecting it to the reservoir to render the operating member ineffective, and actuating means adapted a member operated by the piston, a lhydraulic force transferring duct between the cylinders, means 'including an electrically operated valve between the duct and the receiver cylinder and a pair of mechanically operated valves between the duct and the transmitter cylinder and between the duct and the reservoir fornormally .disconnecting the duct from the cylinders and connecting it to the reservoir to render the operating member ineiective, and actuating means adapted to be operated before the operating member is operated for actuating the valves at\ the transmitter and the valve at the receiver to disconnect the duct from the reservoir and connect' the duct to the transmitter and receiver cylindersto render the operating member effective,

6. In a hydraulic remote control system, in combination, a transmitter including a reservoir,

including a cylinder, a piston in the cylinder and n `*a member operated by the piston, a hydraulic force transferring duct between the cylinders,

means including an electrically operated valve between the duct and the receiver cylinder and a pair of mechanically operated valves between the duct and the transmitter cylinder and between the duct and the reservoir for normally disconnecting the duct from the cylinders -and connecting it t the reservoir to render the operating member ineffective, and a linearly movable member adapted to be operated before the operating member is operated for actuating the valves at the transmitter and the valve at the receiverv to disconnect the duct from the reservoir and connect the duct to the transmitter and receiver cylinders to render the operating member eiective.

7. In a hydraulic remote control system, in combination, a transmitter including a reservoir, a cylinder, a piston in the cylinder and an operating member for actuating the piston, a receiver including a cylinder, a piston in the cylinder and a member operated by the'piston, a hydraulic force transferring duet between the cylinders, means including an electrically operated valve between the duct and the receiver cylinder and a pair of mechanically operated valves between the duct and the transmitter cylinder and between the duct and the reservoir for normally disconnecting the duct from the cylinders and connecting it to the reservoir to render the operating member ineiective, and a linearly movable member carried by the operating member and adapted to be operated before the operating member is operated for actuating the valves at the transmitter and the valve at the receiver to disconnect the duct from the reservoir and connect the duct to the transmitter and receiver cylinders to render the operating member eiective.

8. In a hydraulic remote control system, in combination, a transmitter including a reservoir, a cylinder, a piston in the cylinder and an operating member for actuating the piston. a receiver including a cylinder, a piston in the cylinder and a member operated by the piston, a hydraulic force transferring duct between the cylinders, means including an electrically operated valve between the duct and the receiver cylinder and a pair of mechanically operated valves between theduct and the transmitter cylinder and between the duct and the reservoir for normally disconnecting the duct from the cylinders and connecting it to the reservoir to render the operating member ineiective, a linearly movable member, means responsive to the actuation of the linearly movable member to a predetermined degree for actuating one of the valves at the transmitter to disconnect the duct from the reservoir, means responsive to the further actuation of the linearly movable member for actuating the other valve at the transmitter to connect the duct to the transmitter cylinder, and means responsive 8 i to the further actuation of the linearly movable member for actuating the electrically operated valve to connect the duct to the receiver cylinder, whereby the operating member is rendered effective, y

9. In a hydraulic remote control system, in

'combination, a transmitter including a reservoir,

a cylinder, a piston in the cylinder and an operating member for actuating the piston, a receiver including 'a cylinder, a piston in the cylinder and a member operated by the piston, a hydraulic force Ytransferring duct between the cylinders, means including an electrically operated valve between the duct and the receiver cylinder and a pair of mechanically operated valves between the duct and the transmitter cylinder and between the duct and the reservoir for normally disconnecting the duct from the cylinders and connecting it to the reservoir to render the operating member ineffective, a linearly movable member carried by the operating member, means responsive tothe actuation of the linearly movable member to a predetermined degree lfor actuating one of the valves at the transmitter to disconnect the duct from the reservoir, means responsive to the further actuation of the linearly movable member for lactuating the other valve at the transmitter to connect the duct to the transmitter cylinder, and means responsive to the further actuation of the linearly movable member for actuating the electrically operated valve to connect the duct tothe receiver cylinder, whereby the operating member is rendered effective.

10. In a hydraulic remote control system, in combination, a transmitter including a reservoir, a cylinder, a piston in the cylinder and an operating member for actuating the piston, a receiver including a cylinder, a piston in the cylinder and a member operated by the piston, a hydraulic force transferring duct between the cylinders, means including an electrically operated valve between the duct and the receiver cylinder and a pair of mechanically operated valves between the duct and the transmitter cylinder and bet-Ween the duct and the reservoir for normally disconnecting the duct from the cylinders and connecting it to the reservoir to render the operating member ineffective, one of the valves at the transmitter being normally open and the other valve being normally closed, and means responsive to the actuation of the operating member in a given direction to a predetermined degree for opening the normally closed valve to connect the transmitter cylinder to the reservoir and the duct for synchronization.

CARL G. HEBEL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Ellinwood Aug. 21, 1945 

